Smartphone cameras are steadily improving. Although pictures taken with them aren’t as good as the ones captured using real cameras, they still have one major advantage — you almost always have your gadget with you.
We’ll help you use your mobile camera in the best possible way, so you can take stunning photos.
1. Find the Best Mobile Camera
Most modern smartphones come equipped with an excellent camera. However, if you are particularly interested in taking quality pictures, you should pay special attention to this component when buying a new smartphone. It is often the camera that makes smartphones different from one another. Below is a list of points you should consider when picking one:
Aperture: The aperture is used to adjust the amount of light that hits the sensor. A lower value means that the sensor will be exposed to more light. The rule of thumb here is: the more light, the better the pictures are.
ISO: In poor lighting conditions, a camera uses ISO to improve images. This makes your pictures brighter, but they also become “noisier.” Double-check which ISO your camera can handle, so your photos don’t end up being too noisy.
Megapixel: The more megapixels, the better the level of detail and resolution. This is essential if you want to print images in large format.
Image Stabilization: This function minimizes the shakiness of your images and makes them sharper.
Screen: In a mobile camera, the screen is a viewfinder, which means that the larger screen you have, the more you can see. The screen resolution contributes to how clear the images look on your smartphone.
Storage space: Images require storage space. And, the better the quality, the heavier the files are. Therefore, you should make sure there is enough memory on your smartphone and, if possible, expand it with an SD card.
2. Select Focus
Most mobile cameras are equipped with autofocus. However, the problem is that they do not focus on what you want. Therefore, it is a good idea to focus manually. Most smartphones allow you to focus by touching the object. Then, a circle or square appears, indicating that the focus is set.
3. Stabilize the Camera
It is always annoying when pictures come out blurred. A quick tip that can help you solve this problem is to support your hand by holding the camera against a wall or table. To minimize the shakiness, you can also buy a tripod or a selfie stick.
4. Use Another Button as a Trigger
You can set up your smartphone so that the volume button acts as a trigger. This will allow you to get a better grip when taking pictures than if you tap the regular button on your screen.
You can also connect your headset and use the button on it to take pictures.
Finally, you can use a timer that allows you to get a several-second delay. That will let you achieve more stable and natural-looking images.
Read – Best Android Camera Apps for Pro Photographers
5. Take Control of the Composition
Image composition plays a major role in photography. Even if you are not a professional photographer, there are some tips on composition that are worth remembering.
Keep the horizon line straight: It is distracting when a line is not horizontal, especially when it comes to a horizon in the distance. To fix it, you can activate a line grid on your mobile camera for guidance.
Make sure the main object is not in the middle: Images can become flat and boring if the main object is in the middle of the image. Instead, you can try to move it slightly to the side. Imagine splitting the screen into a 3×3 grid, and then placing the object at one of the lines or where two lines intersect.
Check the corners: Make sure there is nothing in the image that doesn’t belong there, such as a finger on the edges of your photo.
Change the angle: Try to sit on a chair and take pictures from above. Or, lie down on the ground and capture your shots from there.
6. Shade the Sun
Sunlight can be handy, but in the worst-case scenario, it can ruin your pictures by preventing you from seeing the object. In bright sunlight, you can use your hand to shade your phone and achieve better and sharper images.
7. Keep the Lens Clean
This may seem like a simple tip, but keeping your lens free of dust and grease stains improves the quality of your images greatly.
8. Use Online Services for Post Editing
You can use the pictures you’ve taken as a basis and change lightning and add some effects later. There are a lot of tools for online paper editing, photo manipulation, and almost anything you might need. Just pick the one you find convenient and start experimenting.
9. Take Many Pictures
With a smartphone, you don’t have to think about film rolls and developing. However, it is important that you have enough storage space on your smartphone. It is also possible to expand your phone’s internal memory with an SD card. The more pictures you take, the greater the chances of them coming out perfect.
Read – Best Night Vision Apps For Android & iOS
10. View your Photos
There are many ways in which you can show your pictures to your friends. You can upload them on Facebook or Instagram or create slideshows. You can also print them out and put them in a photo album, so they’re always at hand. Then you can analyze the best pictures.
